Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!uunet!haven.umd.edu!cs.umd.edu!skates.gsfc.nasa.gov!jwalker.gsfc.nasa.gov!delwell.530.gsfc From: delwell.530.gsfc@postman.gsfc.nasa.gov (Daniel W. Elwell) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [Pals] A New Friend Date: 16 Aug 1993 21:40:50 GMT Organization: NASA/GSFC Code 534.2 Lines: 47 Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: jwalker.gsfc.nasa.gov Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Zanethar studied the man named Teejay for a moment. It appeared that the man was the more streetwise of the pair. On the other hand it seemed to him that the woman, Justine, was the dominant personality at this table. Although it turned his stomach to see unveiled women in public, he did not let on his aversion. He was after all, a stranger in this land. He must be cautious, until he learned the ways of this country. Zanethar thought, and then began to speak. "As I said, I am a stranger here. You may wonder how I came to be here. Allow me to tell you the tale. "I have come from a city called Ba'ran, which is located on the edge of a great desert. Ba'ran is ruled by a wise Sultan, who has a beautiful daughter. Many princes and maharajahs have asked the Sultan for her hand in marriage. All have walked away disappoitned. It is said that the Sultan will only allow the man who proves nobler than all the rest to marry his daughter. "A few days ago I saw the wondrous Princess Fatima from a distance, and instantly fell in love with her. But, alas, although I am wealthy, I am no noble, so I knew the Sultan would never allow me to wed the Princess. "Desperate, I consulted a wise old mystic, and asked for his aid. He handed me a parchment, and told me not to read it until I was at home. This I did. As I read, a great drowsiness came upon me, and I slept. As I slept, I dreamt. I dreamt of a city far away, and a voice told me that there I would find what I sought. I woke from my slumber to find myself on the outskirts of this city, the very city I dreamt of. "Now, I find myself in a strange land with even stranger customs. It seemed to me that my first order of business would be to find a source of income, and then to begin my search. "Perhaps we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement? I have only a small amount of coin, but," Zanethar continued, "you may know of a potential customer for these." He reached into a pouch, pulled out a diamond, and placed it on the table. __________________________ These opinions don't belong to anyone but me. (Except by accident.) Daniel W. Elwell NASA/GSFC Code 534.2 phone: (301)-286-2342 Greenbelt, MD 20771 fax: (301)-286-7911 internet: delwell.530.gsfc@POSTMAN.NASA.GSFC.GOV